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Inspired by the works of Arthur C. Clarke, J.G. Ballard and Philip K. Dick, Infinite Summer sees Michael Lovett’s NZCA Lines “marry sci-fi futurism to personal intimacies” to produce what must surely be one of the funkiest apocalyptic concept albums of all time. Indeed, also featuring former Ash guitarist Charlotte Hatherley and drummer Sarah Jones (Hot Chip, New Young Pony Club), the follow-up to 2012’s self-titled debut may center on […]

Named after a term used for trained assassins he heard in a documentary on espionage, Skilled Mechanics sees trip-hop trailblazer Tricky assemble his own killer team for the most collaborative studio effort of his lengthy career. Some of those on board are no stranger to the world of Adrian Thaws, including regular vocalist Francesca Belmonte who lends her sultry tones to the eerie synth-balladry of “We Begin,” drummer Luke Harris […]

As you’d expect from a founding member of studious classical-electro outfit Clean Bandit, British-Ugandan vocalist/rapper Love Ssega certainly isn’t short on brainpower. Born and raised in South London, the 24-year-old graduated from Cambridge University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, then made the brave decision to quit the aforementioned Grammy winners to finish his Ph.D. in laser sensing. Love Ssega (real name Ssegawa-Ssekintu Kiwanuka) is just as cultured as he […]

Judging by all the pre-release talk of shunning EDM, steering dance music back into a proper direction and making a piece of art, you’d expect Steve Angello’s second solo LP, Wild Youth, to be something of a game-changer. So it’s slightly baffling to hear that the Stockholm DJ has delivered the kind of unadventurous, generic and largely forgettable record he appears to be rallying against. Indeed, featuring guest appearances from […]

David Bowie, arguably one of the most influential figures in modern music for the past 40-plus years, died on Sunday, Jan. 10 after a battle with cancer. He was 69. While previous rumors of his death in years past were greatly exaggerated, the news has been confirmed by Bowie’s representatives and his son Duncan Jones (via Twitter). The following statement appears on Bowie’s official Facebook page: “David Bowie died peacefully […]

So after crowning Jamie xx’s “Loud Places” and Bob Moses’ Days Gone By as the greatest single and album of 2015 respectively, we now switch our attention to what we can expect to hear over the next twelve months in the world of dance/electronica. The first big album out of the blocks this year is Moth (Jan 22), the third album from alt-pop duo Chairlift, which judging by its first […]

Weekly Mixtape: The Week’s Best Tracks (Edition 7.27.12)

While far from living up to its sizable potential, this track still presents a fine opportunity for hearing two hip-hop godheads in one concise package.

Andre 3000 turns in the better verse on this one, seeing as slow and sensitive are two modes with which he has a practiced facility. The same cannot be said of Mr. Ross, though he uses this track to make a respectable argument for the thesis that, “This ain’t just hip-hop, this is my life.”

Coming from a man who used to be a corrections officer and has sold little (or nothing) in the way of narcotics, that’s a tough statement to believe, though, like many of Rick Ross’s chosen fantasies, he does a very good job of selling it, regardless its authenticity.

Meek Mill, “Maybach Curtainz”

Maybach Music’s rising tide has lifted a great many ships, none more deserving than that of Philadelphia MC Meek Mill. On this slight track, culled from the Sour Hour 2 mixtape, Mill waxes poetic about his rise to fame. Though obscured by a buzzing swarm of shout-outs, Mill’s verse once more proves that his emotional range spreads far wider than that of Maybach’s flagship act—Rick Ross.

Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert, “Same Love”

Though I have somehow avoided dedicating space on this blog to Seattle MC Mackchlemore and his production partner Ryan Lewis, it should be noted that the duo makes some of the best independent hip-hop in the country. At this point, the pair can pretty much take its pick of the major labels, and the fact that it has so far snubbed such offers suggests a level of business acumen on par with its impressive songwriting abilities.

Though the combination of hip-hop with pre-existing celebrity has proven disastrous in the past, respectable examples of this admixture occasionally turn up as well. Donald Glover (nee, Childish Gambino), while far from the best MC in the game, employs his minor television celebrity to his advantage, laying down quasi-comedic tracks that build from the starting point of his character on the sitcom Community.

“Sour Face” features Glover at his most unsmilingly self-serious. He pulls off this mood admirably, though Jay Rock still upstages his verses by dint of the fact that he’s, you know, a professional.

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About the Author

Shane Danaher's affection for pop music has peppered his adult life with a variety of aesthetically rewarding and financially disastrous decisions. After moving to Portland, Oregon for college (because that's where he heard Modest Mouse was from) Shane has wound up participating in the music world in roles ranging from 'drummer' to 'promoter' to 'bathroom floor scrubber.' He has toured without money, written about almost every band ever to have come out of the Pacific Northwest, and one time traveled all the way to Los Angeles just to see a catch hip-hop show.
He currently resides in Portland, where he writes about hip-hop, pop and rock music for a variety of publications. He still plays drums. He wants to meet Kanye West.